Unlocking Dharmic concepts

1. Unlocking Dharmic concepts Core Ideas in the Indian Religions By Sushma Sahajpal

2. Understanding Dharmic Religions “It is crucial…for anyone with a genuine interest in understanding Dharma, to be able to suspend their own frame of religious reference to understand this one. There is otherwise a potential barrier to comprehension that I am naming at the outset. The analogy I suggest to new students …is to assume the mind-set of a horse expert encountering an elephant. Do not assume it is merely a misshapen or inferior type of horse, but see the functionality, beauty and rationale of unfamiliar tusks and trunk for what they are, features on a genetically distinct creature, developed in a fundamentally different climate and environment”

3. Unlocking Dharmic Traditions Banyan Tree Ancient, multiple root systems, The Indian/Insider word for ‘religion’ is ‘Dharma’ • BUT Unusual Features of Dharmas: All Dharmas: No Specific Deity, Doctrine of Faith or After-life ‘privileges’ of belonging/chosen people Hindu Dharma(s): No Founder, No ‘Commandments’

4. Unlocking Dharmic Traditions Banyan Tree Ancient, multiple root systems, The Indian/Insider word for ‘religion’ is ‘Dharma’ Buddhism: Dhamma (Pali Language) Sikhism: Dharam (Punjabi) Jainism: Dharma (Sanskrit) Hinduism: Sanatan Dharma – Umbrella term!

5. Unlocking Dharmic Traditions Banyan Tree Ancient, multiple root systems, The Indian/Insider word for ‘religion’ is ‘Dharma’ • Rather than a belief system it is a way of Being,Behaving and Becoming What matters is not what you believe but how you experience & treat life today and evolve.

6. Unlocking Dharmic Traditions Banyan Tree Ancient, multiple root systems, The Indian/Insider word for ‘religion’ is ‘Dharma’ • Teacher/Guru, Philosophy, Principles & Practices • Examine some key features of a specific Dharma • Key Concepts across Dharmas • Closer look at the word Dharma

7. Divine (Life positive) Truth Philosophy/Principles Avatars eg Krishna Gurus eg Vivekananda (Deepak Chopra?) Faith Leaders Swamis Practice Community Leaders egPriests Dharma= Philosophy, Principles & Practice (Disciplines-slider) Immediate Human Needs

8. Understanding Dharmas • Hinduism can be understood on two simultaneous levels: • Philosophy (not Truth Claims) and Self-Development Practices: • Preserved in Sanskrit Books by Ancient • Rishis (Seers) • and Rishikas • Folk Culture: Living the Philosophy (Namaste/Guest Reverance) • DiverseTraditionslearnt in family communities through • Stories & Festivals • These two are blended in varying ways across India, • a country over 12 times the size of Britain

9. Dharmic Philosophies as Living Traditions The Rishis used Images, Stories & Games to help explain to lay people (so can we!)

10. Understanding Hindu ways of ‘Being & Behaving’ Indian Name for ‘Hinduism’ - for this way of Being: Sanatan Dharma Which literally means: The Eternal or Ever-flowing Way (in harmony with the unfolding Universe) What matters is not what you believe about the past or the future, but how you experience & live life.

11. Hindu Philosophy: Brahman • One Ultimate Reality or Absolute Truth • Infinite & Universal • Without form or attribute • before and beyond Time (Sanatan). • self-organising field of intelligence or consciousness, spiritual ‘gloop’, • Spirit. (‘God’??)

12. Philosophy: MATERIAL WORLDS COME & GO • All Physical Universes emerge and blend back into Brahman in their OWN Time. • Each universe has a finite calculated lifespan • Modern Cosmologists calculate age of this universe (ie since the big bang) to within decimal points of the definition in the Vedas. • One Kalpa= 4.32 billion years • Time is considered to be cyclical not linear And now a game…

13. Lord Brahma (Who?) For help creating NEW ideas

14. Lord Vishnu(Who?) For developing/growing WELL

15. Lord Shiva (Who?) For wisdom/power to appreciate endings

16. Dharma – Flourishing Blueprint

17. Karma – Choices & Consequences

18. Namaste First key Concept: Universal Interconnected Divinity (Golden Rule Plus+)

19. ‘Hindu’ Dharma relates to the Natural World as a mother who gives us.... ...Nourishment, Nurture & Spiritual Healthconsidered as Conscious as we are (eg. Dancers/my family/Indigenous traditions around the world)

20. Way of Behaving: ActivityKarma is not good or bad – it generates consequences it takes us towards dharmic flow (Greater Good) or away from IT (Personal Desire)

21. Principles not Rules:Importance of WisdomStories – Bhagavad Gita

22. How Dharmics ‘Tune-In’Meditation– Puja – Whole BeingIs this prayer? What does Mandir mean?

23. Being it! Intuition /Consciousness Deity Intervention Philosopy Eg Oneness Principles Eg Ahimsa The many meanings of the Word Dharma Practices Eg Vegan Dharma= Guru, Philosophy, Principles, Practice (Disciplines-slider)

24. Key Concept: Pluralism Truth is One, though the sages know it variously • (Ékam sat viprabahudāvadanti) • Rig Veda “Whenever & wherever Dharma becomes weak and Adharma becomes strong, I (Spirit) will manifest in every age” - Sri Krishna Bhagavad Gita Not just in India or Bethlehem or Jerusalem BUT wherever a correcting intervention is needed. What would it look like??

25. Religious revelation Events:Prophets, Saints & Avatars What would a correcting intervention look like?? Dharmic intervention is benign, fluid, responsive, fit for purpose and brings much-needed societal change. • Depending on what imbalance was being restored in that time & place • Those who overturn temples (Jesus) • Those who build temples (King Solomon) • Those who denounce ritual (Guru Nanak) • Those who bring new rituals (Guru Gobind Singh) • Those who preach peace (Dalai Lama) • Those who lead conflicts (St Joan of Arc) • E.g. Rama who brought peace & rule of law • E.g. Krishna facilitated an epic war & the dismantling of hypocritical laws

26. Many Paths up the MountainThe Mountain is for all not only ‘Hindus’